What do you make of this quote?

[NewsTheMan]

I have been arguing on Facebook with a lady for months on end about contraception and masterbation. She just completely defies the teaching and claims it is wrong etc. If you care to read, go the Ask a Catholic Nun discussion page.

Anyway, in my discussions (well, arguments) with her… my dad posted this:

“Our Church truly is for everyone , those who don’t believe . Those who don’t understand .
Those who cannot fit in , and those who wonder why they are there at all .
Our rituals and traditions , our Sacraments and our sense of Faith draw different people to the Church and ultimately to God .
I tend to forget that there are many Catholics who disagree with its teachings , whether real or perceived .
All the same , these people can also gain Spiritually just by being with us or part of us .
I forget that there is no limit to God’s Grace .
It is very easy to differ from opinions of Popes or prelates if you are inside the fold . If you are outside , these differences become stumbling blocks .
I’m sorry that I’m not always sympathetic to those who may find some aspects of Catholicism difficult to accept”

And it just… I don’t think its correct.
How can our Church be for non-believers? That makes no sense.
But also, I understand maybe the overall theme is that our Church is universal, but surely we don’t want to claim everyone and anyone is allowed within our fold whether they agree with our teaching, dogma, doctrine etc or not? What ya’ll think?

Oh, and if I may…

Some guy, who I am becoming suspicious of, wrote this on facebook:

“There’s a loophold. It will take the Vatican years after I am gone to figure it out. There’s a loophold. There’s a loophold in Peter’s chair. Spread the Churches. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit I take the Chair for a moment and leave it.”

That… sounds heretical to me? A loophold? Loophole you mean. And, you are all of a sudden the deposit of faith? There’s a loophold (sic) in Peters chair? And you occupy it for a moment in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit?

Am I right to be worried about that statement (it was posted by a friend of my fathers - my father believes him to be very spiritually enlightened and gifted but I don’t buy it and I believe that he is almost dangerous but I don’t want to make a rash judgement).

Thanks

 

[Big_D]

We will answer to God for everything we say, do, or think. Trust in the Lord, look to Him for answers, listen and He will guide you. He Is the Way, the Truth and the Light. Read your Catechism, love it and live. Take care of you and pray for everyone!!!

 

[Stephentlig]

Dont become involved in intellectual battles with people, it will ruin your spirituality and your peace of mind, the devil is the big arguer, stay away from it.

that was the job of the disciples, they went from town to town asking people if they wanted to be happy, when people refused to listen, they simply shook their sandals and left, you must learn when to do the same.

You’ll never convince a mind already made up, but the Lord can, through your prayers, fasting and attendance of Mass.

Leave them be, for the more you hang around them, the more of a danger you are of becoming like them.

Pax Christi
Stephen <3

 

[revert_jen]

“There’s a loophold. It will take the Vatican years after I am gone to figure it out. There’s a loophold. There’s a loophold in Peter’s chair. Spread the Churches. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit I take the Chair for a moment and leave it.”

That… sounds heretical to me? A loophold? Loophole you mean. And, you are all of a sudden the deposit of faith? There’s a loophold (sic) in Peters chair? And you occupy it for a moment in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit?

Am I right to be worried about that statement (it was posted by a friend of my fathers - my father believes him to be very spiritually enlightened and gifted but I don’t buy it and I believe that he is almost dangerous but I don’t want to make a rash judgement).

Thanks

I don’t know that it is particularly dangerous. As far as I can tell it’s mostly gibberish. “Spread the Churches”? What does that even mean? He takes the chair? What is the purpose? He can’t be Pope under any circumstances unless he is ordained a Catholic priest. Frankly it sounds a bit insane. I mean, it’s not like it’s the actual physical chair is important.

–Jen

 

[revert_jen]

Dont become involved in intellectual battles with people, it will ruin your spirituality and your peace of mind, the devil is the big arguer, stay away from it.

It’s important to figure out whether a person wants to know or find out something and is asking questions to clarify things, or whether they just want to trade arguments.

The first group of people may not end up persuaded, but it’s very much worthwhile to talk to them. The second group is not going to EVER change their minds and as you say, the intellectual battles with this sort of person is not going to help them, and it may well hurt you.

–Jen

 

[Stephentlig]

It’s important to figure out whether a person wants to know or find out something and is asking questions to clarify things, or whether they just want to trade arguments.

The first group of people may not end up persuaded, but it’s very much worthwhile to talk to them. The second group is not going to EVER change their minds and as you say, the intellectual battles with this sort of person is not going to help them, and it may well hurt you.

–Jen

Of course Jen, I’m not advocating that we give everyone the silence card, but like the Disciples of old, give them a fair few responses, and if they are not willing then shake your sandals and leave that town ( soul ) but keep it in the memory of your prayers.

It sounds more like the OP is in an argument as opposed to anything else. but thats my personal assertion for the moment.

 

[revert_jen]

Of course Jen, I’m not advocating that we give everyone the silence card, but like the Disciples of old, give them a fair few responses, and if they are not willing then shake your sandals and leave that town ( soul ) but keep it in the memory of your prayers.

It sounds more like the OP is in an argument as opposed to anything else. but thats my personal assertion for the moment.

I thought I was agreeing with you. I just thought the statement was a bit generic without a little expansion.

–Jen

 

[Stephentlig]

I thought I was agreeing with you. I just thought the statement was a bit generic without a little expansion.

–Jen

Well if you were eating my wifes crepes covered in maple syrup you’d have a hard time expanding on any discussion whether it be on the internet or in person. they are delicious.

Thank you for expanding upon my post though, as I am quite the unintelligent and foolish man )

 

[revert_jen]

Well if you were eating my wifes crepes covered in maple syrup you’d have a hard time expanding on any discussion whether it be on the internet or in person. they are delicious.

Sounds like they might help you expand in other ways.

…I am quite the unintelligent and foolish man )

I doubt it. I’m just nitpicky.

But I certainly agree that if the OP has been arguing with someone for months, that person is not going to be convinced nd the argument is not going to go anywhere. Once it’s been going on that long, it becomes the rhetorical version of “chicken”. Both people keep it up until one of them just gets too sick of it and then the other declares victory. It doesn’t mean anything about the strength of either argument or the truth of either position.

–Jen

 

[PJM]

=Big D;6736483]We will answer to God for everything we say, do, or think. Trust in the Lord, look to Him for answers, listen and He will guide you. He Is the Way, the Truth and the Light. Read your Catechism, love it and live. Take care of you and pray for everyone!!!

I agree with the part that claims the “Church is open and available to everyone” …BUT that is not the same as saying She is open to everyones personal opinion, or select understanding and acceptance of doctrine and dogma. One CANNOT be a “Catholic” without actually being A CATHOLIC.

The Church insist on One being “in communion” with who and what we are before She permits formal entry. The Sactaments of Baptism, Confession, Eucharist and Confirmation; which is a personal Covenant with God to know, live, share the Catholic faith, are required before one in brought into the Church as an adult.

Even for one “born into the Church” the other Sacraments, adding to the Baptism, are common to being someting more than a catholic in name alone, of which there are many.